At the beginning of Creation, God promised to send a Savior to deliver mankind from the punishment of their sin. Years went by, and the promised Savior had not come. But prophets who spoke God’s messages to the people of Israel foretold of the Savior’s coming. Here is what the prophet Isaiah had to say. “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign; Behold, a virgin will conceive, and give birth to a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) We are told in Matthew 1:23 that Immanuel means “God with us”. Wow! God’s promised Savior was actually going to be God himself with us. What a wonderful promise!
And do you know that God is with you every day, all the time? For those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ for salvation, he has promised, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b) In a very well known Psalm, David said, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me: thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” These words from Psalm 23 have brought great comfort to many people throughout the years.
So, no matter what you are going through today, take comfort in knowing that you are not forgotten by God. He is with you. Talk to Him. Listen to Him. He is Immanuel, God with us.
For the children: Do you know there is an easy way to remember Hebrews 13:5? Hold your hand out in front of you, 
with your fingers pointing up. Then, use each of your five fingers to remember one of the five words from “I will never leave you.” Start with your pinky finger for the word “I”. Then use your ring finger for the word “will”. Use your middle finger for the word “never”. Then use your pointer finger and say the word “leave”. Lastly, point your thumb at yourself and say, “You.”
